Strawberry Fields Forever

30 years ago today, John Lennon was killed.

I have been to the Strawberry Fields memorial for Lennon in Central Park a couple of times, and both times I was struck by what a peaceful place it was, despite being right next to a main road. I always find it so touching that people still go and lay flowers and leave letters and poems for him. It is a great testament to Lennon's intelligence and genius that people still care so much about him, this many years on. I wish I was in New York today so that I could be there (but then again, I always wish I was in New York).

Inspire #9 - Hats Off to the Buskers

Carl Barat's autobiography comes out this week, so in celebration let us all sling our guitars on our backs and head out on to the streets. We are Libertines, after all.

If I hadn't only been 13 when The Libs and The Strokes were making guerilla gigs cool again, I would have been down in London, sleeping under bridges and trying to sneak into Pete's house parties.

TAG

The lovely Vicky over at her beautiful blog Aha Shake Heartbreaker, has tagged me in a post! You remember those questionnaire things that always used to go around Myspace? Well it's like that, only cooler (I'm lying - nothing is cooler than Myspace. I miss it). Anyway, here are my answers. Not being a fashion blogger per se, my answers will no doubt be the opposite of what everyone else will say. But that's why you love me, right? Right?

1.) Why did you start blogging?

Several reason really. I set this up aaages ago, but I never wrote on it because I thought, who on earth is going to read this stuff? Then my pal Hayley started a blog, so I began to post because I figured that this way atleast one person is going to read it. And then I got a bit carried away and now I post loads. I basically just wanted somewhere that I could write about music I listen to or films I see, gigs I go to, books I read and things that I love. All the pictures that I post are things that I would print out and stick into my diary if I had a printer, or, indeed, a diary.

2.) Do you prefer Spring/Summer or Autumn/Winter?

SUMMER! Not even Spring/Summer, but just SUMMER. I hate Winter. I hate New Years. I adore Christmas, but I hate the crushing feeling of anticlimax when Christmas is over. I hate it when it gets dark early. I hate it when I get up for work and it's still dark. I HATE BEING COLD. HATE IT. I can't bear being cold, so Winter is the worst for me. I love summer; I love the freedom it gives you because it's warm and light and you can wear whatever you want without having to worry about trying not to freeze to death. Fashion-wise, I far prefer A/W campaigns, but for myself, summer is the only season that I can comfortably handle. When I was on holiday, being able to go out at night in only denim cut-offs and a blouse was The Best.

3.) What do you notice first: Smokey eye make-up or bright lips?

Bright lips are more striking and noticeable, but I prefer smokey eyes for myself.

4.) Who are your style icons?

Alexa Chung can do no wrong; I would wear any outfit of hers and be very happy. Florence Welch is also fairly perfect on the style scale. Alison Mosshart; she's so cool it makes me want to cry. Bands from the early sixties, like The Beatles in their black tie phase, or Rolling Stones in their flouncy phase. Bands nowadays, like The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, or Kings of Leon. I take tips from anywhere, but music and musicians is my big one.

5.) Describe your personality in three words?

Obsessive. Ridiculous. Sarcastic.

6.) If you had to leave the house with only one item of make-up what would it be?

Aaaah, that's a tough one because I physically cannot leave the house without foundation or eyeliner. But if I had a gun to my head, I would choose foundation and just wear sunglasses, or something.

7.) Which era do you think influenced fashion the most?

I think the Sixties was a really big era for fashion; that period of time opened up so many levels for us now, and gave us so much freedom. But in terms of influencing fashion, nothing has been more influencial than Chanel. She changed everything in women's fashion, so I would say The Chanel Era.

8.) What beauty product do you always repurchase?
Bourjois foundation, Rimmel kohl eyeliner.

Let's keep this going, shall we?
Paris Lives Here
Ergy Erg
Romance Is Boring
Thoughts on Stuff
Subject of Style

"It was like I'd slept with red henna and woken up with superhero hair!"

Tonight I'm dying my hair ginger, partly because I love people calling me 'Florence', but mostly so that I can pose for Dante Gabriel Rossetti when he finally gets around to asking me:

Yeah, I'm gonna look well cool.

Also, Rossetti was a bit alright, wasn't he? Lovely curly hair, a shirt and bow-tie...my kind of lad.

And I've been listening to The Beatles. I think I'm going to start dressing more like this. I always thought Paul was the best, until I realised that George Harrison was beautiful and that Paul looks like my uncle, so now I can't fancy him.

Inspire #1

I Want To Be A 1950s Boy

Nowhere Boy is one of the best films that I have seen this year. I didn't manage to catch it in the cinemas when it was released last December, but I just got in on DVD. I love The Beatles and I love Aaron Johnson, so naturally I was going to love this, but it was far better than I imagined. It is sort of obvious that it is director Sam Taylor-Wood's first full length film, because it is nowhere near perfect. Some of the scenes are quite choppy (or too long) and there is sort of a first-film vibe around the whole thing. But it's a great British film and there's a great cast, including Kristen Scott Thomas, who epitomises glamour, and Thomas Sangster, who is completely adoreable as Paul McCartney, and who also looks like a young Ryan Ross (loovvveeee).

But Aaron Johnson is the best. His John Lennon is actually stellar. Obviously he doesn't look much like him, but he has got the cheeky accent down to a T. He pulls off the same sarcastic humour that Lennon was famous for, and when he sings he sounds just like him. Plus he is unbelievably attractive. He's got this amazing swagger and amazing hair and his clothes! Oh my word, I want his wardrobe from that film. Incredible. It's a cracking film, and even you're not into The Beatles (what's wrong with you?) then you should watch it. It's worth it just for the bit where Aaron first wears the 'Buddy Holly' glasses (I think I have mentioned before my perverse obsession with lads who wear glasses...)